Electric switch



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. T. CLARK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

No. 451,268. Patented Apr. 28,- 1891. 7

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

- 11. T. CLARK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. No. 451,268. Patented Apr. 28, 1891.

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HORACE T. CLARK, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,268, dated April 28, 1891. Application filed February 26 1891. Serial No- 382,814. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE T. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefullmprovementsin ElectricSwitches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in electric switches, and has for its object to provide a device of this description, either single or double pole, of the variety known as the snap-switch, which shall be simple in construction, and in which, as is usual in the better class of snap-switches, both the make and break movements shall be spring-actuated; and with these ends in view my invention consists and resides in the construction and combination of elements hereinafter fullyexplained, and then recited in the claims.

In order that those skilled in the 'art to which myinvention appertains may fully understand its construction and method of peration,Iwill describe the same in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a double-pole switch embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation showing such a double-pole switch in its closed position; Fig". 3, a vertical section on the line 00 m of Fig. 1, the switch being closed; Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the switch open.

Like numerals denote the same parts inall the figures of the drawings.

1 is a base of any suitable material, preferably porcelain or wood. Upon this are mounted circuit-terminals 2, which may be of any approved form. Upon the center of the base is a housing 3 open toward the terminals, as shown in the sectional figures.

in place in any suitable mannor as, for instance, by screws driven upward through the base and into laterally-projecting lugs 4..

5 is the circuit-closing bar,which is arranged inside the housing and is vertically guided It is secured recesses 19.

by means of flanges 6 or other means suitable for this purpose. Said circuit-closing bar carries upon its ends contacts 7 ,Which are adapted to co-operate with the terminals to establish the circuit. approved form. As will be observed by reference to Fig. 1, the circuit-closing bar is open at its central portion, and at either side of the housing it carries a pair of uprights 8, which are firmly secured to said bar or are formed integral therewith.

, 9 are pins passed through the tops of each pair of uprights, and to each pin is pivoted a depending lever 10, whose lower end is preferably provided with a roller 11. Between each-of the levers 10 and the end wall of the opening in the circuit-closing bar is interposed a spring 12, so compressed as to exert a constant pressure in the direction of its length. Said springs areretained as against displacement by any simple devicesuch, for instance, as the pins 13 shown at Figs. 3 and 4.

14 is the operating-handle, provided with a knob 15 and guided in ways in the top and bottom of the housing, the base being recessed beneath the end of said handle, as shown at 16. The handle is preferably provided with some means to prevent it from turning-as, for instance, groove l7-in which may run any suitable pin projecting from the housing. Secured upon each side of the handle 14: is a double-faced cam 18, and above and below said cam are recesses 19, in which the rolls 11 may rest; but these recesses are not essential.

In the operation of the switch just described the make and break movements of the circuit-closing bar are effected by a longitudinal movement of the handle 14:. Referring now to Fig. 3, when it is desired to open the circuit the handle is pushed downwardly. This drives the cams 18 in between the rolls upon the levers 10, thereby compressing the springs 12 until such time as the highest portions of the cams have passed the rollers, when the springs acting upon the descending portions of the cams will throw the bar upward with a quick sharp movement, the parts being then in the position shown at Fig. 4. \Vhen in a state of rest either at the open or closed position, the rolls upon the levers rest within the WVhen the switch is closed, press- They may be of any usual or.

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ure of the springs is constantly exerted to retain the bar in firm contact with the terminals, as will be seen by the slightly-inclined position of the springs in Fig. 3.

I do not wish to be confined to the precise arrangement and mode of interaction of the several parts as herein shown and described, since these may be varied without departing from the essentials of my invention.

In connection with this application I desire to refer to a certain other application for similar subject-matter filed by me January 20, 1891, No, 379,002, which is in some respects analogous to the devices herein shown and described.

IVithout limiting myself to the precise details of construction, I claim 1. In an electric switch, the combination, with the circuit-terminals, of a movable and suitably-guided circuit-closing bar, a spring contained within said bar and compressible and expansible in the line of the length of the same, an operating handle bearing a double-faced cam, and a swinging lever interposed between the cam-face and the spring, substantially as described.

2. In an electric switch, the combination, with the circuit-terminals, ot' the movable and suitably-guided circuit-closing bar, a pair of springs contained within said bar and compressible and expansible in the line of the length of the latter, an operating-handle carrying double-faced cams, and a pair of swinginglevers interposed between the cam-faces and the springs, substantially as described.

In an electric switch, the combination, with the circuit-terminals, of the movable and suitably-guided circuit-closing bar, two pairs of uprights carried by said bar, a lever fulcrumed between and depending from each pair of uprights, compressible springs interposed between said levers and the end walls of the bar, and an operating-handle provided with double-faced cams mounted and adapted to move between the levers and at right angles to the bar, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HORACE '1. CLARK.

Witnesses SHERMAN IIARTWELL HUBBARD, MINNA C. HINOHCLIFFE. 

